Harry Redknapp criticises BBC chairman’s proposed changes to Match of the Day format

Harry Redknapp criticises the BBC chairman’s proposed changes to the Match of the Day format after Gary Lineker leaves this summer.

Samir Shah suggested that the long-running football highlights show, which has been a staple since 1964, should shift its focus away from showing match footage and instead prioritise in-depth analysis and examination to provide viewers with a “deeper insight” into the games.

This plan comes as the show gets set for it’s significant transition, with host Gary Lineker stepping down at the end of the current season after 26 years, to be replaced by a trio of presenters: Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, and Gabby Logan.

“Fewer highlights, more analysis”

The chairman has called for huge changes to Match of the Day after Gary Lineker’s exithttps://t.co/j1AgbIwUSg pic.twitter.com/7VisygL5I6

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) March 10, 2025

Redknapp, 78, has disagreed with Shah’s vision, arguing that the essence of Match of the Day lies in its role as a highlights program, not a discussion platform.

He acknowledges that the media landscape has evolved since the program’s early days when it was one of the few ways to see football action on TV, but insists that viewers still value seeing the key moments of matches rather than extended punditry.

Redknapp’s stance reflects a broader sentiment among some fans and commentators who fear that reducing highlights in favour of analysis would alienate the show’s core audience.

Match of the Day, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024 and remains a significant part of British football culture, drawing around 3.5 million viewers despite a decline from its 1970s peak of 12 million.

Shah’s argument hinges on the idea that many fans have already seen goals and highlights online by the time the show airs on Saturday or Sunday nights, suggesting a need for the program to adapt to modern viewing habits.

However, Redknapp says that the show’s traditional format – centered on presenting the day’s football action—still holds unique appeal, even in an era of instant digital access.

Shah told the Sunday Times that Match of the Day “should not be built around highlights”, and believes it “should be built around analysis and examination of the match to give viewers a deeper insight”.

Redknapp said to The Sun: “It’s not a talk show. People tune in because they want to watch the football.

“I know it’s different to the old days, when it was the only way to see football on TV, but you still want to see what’s happened, not listen to someone telling you why.”

Shah, 73, said in an interview with The Sunday Times: “It should be built around analysis and examination of the match to give viewers a deeper insight.”

The Sun’s head of sport Shaun Custis hit back: “There is a misconception that everyone has seen the goals before Match of the Day. People do have lives, they aren’t watching football all day on Saturday.

“We’re already drowning in analysis.

“Nobody down the pub talks about expected goals, transitions and goal involvements.

“And many people I know record MoTD and fast- forward through the analysis just to watch the matches.”

Giving your analysis on Match of the Day isn’t always as easy as it looks… especially when you’ve got the director in your ear 😅#BBCFootball #MOTD pic.twitter.com/4hr6yNDXxz

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 9, 2025

This is what fans are saying as Harry Redknapp criticises the BBC chairman’s proposed changes to Match of the Day format…

@AndyElche: I want to watch football. Sick of biased Presenters putting their spin on something that others see completely differently. I watch to see football, couldn’t care less about analysis

@infoholicuk: More stuff to fast forward through…

@alistair200180: So he should leave it as it is highlights and discussion don’t fix something what is not broken

@KevinSpurs: Out of touch! Proper research or ‘big gob’? Fans would have seen their teams goals on social media, but tune into MotD for highlights of all the other matches. More football and less talking by “fans with mikes”

@eddiehewitt32: On a sporting note, Samir Shah, BBC supremo, wants to see less football on #MOTD. More analysis and fewer goals. This is mad! Has he never seen that interview with the late great Brian Clough? And not everyone sees goals on their phones. 🤷🏼‍♂️ @BBCSport @GaryLineker @NFFC ⚽️

@JamesHatherz: BBC utterly clueless yet again. Most people fast forward the cliche ridden shit talking from the pundits.

@DaveOurPlanet: I think the #BBC Chairman is hopelessly out of touch and has no idea what football fans want. More football, more highlights, less talking & analysis. I hope he reads the comments below the story @BBCSport @BBCMOTD @BBCNews #MOTD #Football

@DynamoJono: Samir Shah clearly doesn’t remember the time Match of the Day was replaced by The Premiership on ITV in the early 2000’s. They did the “less highlights, more analysis” thing and it was a complete disaster! #MOTD

@lewisboon: Samir Shah is incredibly out of touch with his view on #MOTD. if you can’t get a ticket to the game or more sadly can’t afford a ticket to a game, being able to see extended highlights of your team is the closest you get to watching your team. #BBCFootball don’t take that away!

@DrRichardPile: What a load of rubbish from the #bbc chair! I watch MOTD most weeks, starting at least 30 mins late…so I can fast forward through the punditry. I don’t want more of it! Sorry @GaryLineker @alanshearer

@JakartaCasual: So the chairman of the BBC thinks MOTD needs to show less highlights and more analysis. I stopped watching cos there’s too much bloody analysis. Far too many talking heads on these football shows…just get rid..

@Hallamites: I like MOTD because, for me, it gives enough highlights to get a feel for the game, with a bit of analysis thrown in. The 3 mins of highlights on YouTube don’t do a game justice.

@SMTHFC1: ‘MOTD should show fewer highlights – BBC chairman’ – Yes, because we all want and need less football and more droning, interminable bollocks from Dion Dublin, Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy.

@KevinSpurs: Out of touch! Proper research or ‘big gob’? Fans would have seen their teams goals on social media, but tune into MotD for highlights of all the other matches. More football and less talking by “fans with mikes”

@damoramo666: Anyone else just watch the highlights and fast forward through the analysis cuz most of the pundits have zero personality, paired with a distinct inability to say anything beyond stating the obvious, or is it just me? #motd

@Joeash78: MOTD shows 8 minutes of highlights, YouTube shows 3. So MOTD has 5 minutes’ of competitive advantage over YouTube. Sport is about action 1st, not chat. If you want chat, go down the pub.

@andymcelwaine: MOTD want to show MORE analysis and less highlights. It’s like they actively want to lose viewers. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

Samir Shah showing that he doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about! @BBCSport need to know that #MOTD highlights are often the ONLY match coverage many people can afford to see these days!@GaryLineker @markchapman pic.twitter.com/TS13KkhoQt

— In Oxford (@Oxford_Life) March 10, 2025